US20090290002A1 - Liquid ejecting device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Liquid ejecting device and image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090290002A1 US20090290002A1 US12/470,747 US47074709A US2009290002A1 US 20090290002 A1 US20090290002 A1 US 20090290002A1 US 47074709 A US47074709 A US 47074709A US 2009290002 A1 US2009290002 A1 US 2009290002A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- liquid
- ink
- head
- tank
- liquid ejecting
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/195—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for monitoring ink quality
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
- B41J2/17509—Whilst mounted in the printer
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a liquid ejecting device and an image forming apparatus including the same.
- IJ on-demand-type ink jet recording techniques
- an ink ejecting method in which a vibration plate is provided on a part of the wall of a liquid chamber filled with ink and the vibrating plate is displaced by a piezoelectric actuator or the like so as to change the volume of the liquid chamber and increase the pressure therein
- an ink ejecting method in which a heater to be heated by its energization is provided in a liquid chamber and the inner pressure of the liquid chamber is increased by means of air bubbles generated by heating of the heater.
- the IJ technique has been applied no only to a low-price printer but also to image formation for a wide-format poster, a sign board and the like.
- a method of feeding ink (re-fill) from a high-capacity ink cartridge installed in its body through a tube into a head tank (also called a sub-tank) on the top of a head has been commonly used.
- ink refill method using a tube it is possible to lighten and miniaturize its carriage part and accordingly it is possible to miniaturize an apparatus including its structural system and driving system greatly.
- an ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Application No. 2006-088564 it may be useful to pressurize ink at its feeding side and to provide a differential pressure regulating valve at the upstream side of a sub-tank whereby ink is fed when the negative pressure of the inside of the sub-tank is greater than a predetermined pressure.
- the ink feeding system disclosed therein is configured to circulate ink through a reservoir tank fixed on its body and the sub-tank mounted on a carriage whereby it is possible to discharge air bubbles together with the ink.
- a recording head is connected to the sub-tank through the differential pressure regulating valve, and is configured such that ink is fed from the sub-tank to the recording head when the recording head has a predetermined or less negative pressure.
- an ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,252,392 has a configuration so as to provide a good efficiency of air bubble discharge of a recording head part.
- an ink cartridge and a sub-tank are connected to one side and the other side of a common liquid chamber of a recording head, respectively, wherein pressurization of the ink cartridge and atmospheric pressure release of the sub-tank are conducted appropriately so as to move ink between them whereby it is possible to discharge air bubbles in the common liquid chamber of the head.
- the ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-088564 may solve the problem of ink refilling but the efficiency of air bubble discharge of the head may be insufficient when the length of the head is increased, and its ejection stability may not be ensured.
- the ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,252,392 may provide a good efficiency of air bubble discharge of the head but it is impossible to solve the problem of ink refilling.
- the inventor has found that there is provided a liquid ejecting device that does not cause insufficient refilling even in the case where ink feeding with a large flow rate is required, is allowed to discharge an air bubble(s) of a recording head sufficiently, and provides the recording head with an improved ejection stability, and an image forming apparatus with the same.
- a liquid ejecting device including a liquid ejecting head including a liquid ejecting nozzle, a head tank configured to store liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid storing container configured to store liquid to be fed to the head tank, a first liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid storing container to the head tank, a pressure adjusting tank configured to store liquid suctioned from the liquid ejecting head, and a second liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the pressure adjusting tank
- the head tank includes a liquid receiving port configured to receive liquid from the liquid storing container via a liquid receiving valve being opened at a predetermined or less pressure and a liquid feeding port configured to feed liquid to the liquid ejecting head and the liquid ejecting head includes a liquid inflow port communicating with the liquid feeding port and a liquid outflow port communicating with the pressure adjusting tank via the second liquid sending device.
- an image forming apparatus including the liquid ejecting device as described above.
- FIGS. 1A , 1 B, and 1 C are a front view, side view, and top view of an ink jet printer in which a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, respectively.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an ejection head.
- FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C are diagrams illustrating an operation of a valve of a head tank.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating system ( 1 ) for feeding ink to a head tank.
- FIG. 5 is a diagram prior to feeding of ink to a head tank.
- FIG. 6 is a diagram of the state where ink has been fed to a head tank.
- FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating feeding of ink to a recording head.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system ( 2 ) for feeding ink to a head tank.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system ( 3 ) for feeding ink to a head tank.
- FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation for preventing back flow of ink due to an elastic wall of a head tank.
- FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system ( 4 ) for feeding ink to a head tank.
- FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation for preventing back flow of ink due to an elastic wall of a head tank.
- FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a system ( 5 ) for feeding ink to a head tank.
- a liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting head (also referred to a recording head) including a liquid ejecting nozzle, a head tank for storing liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid storing container for storing liquid to be fed to the head tank, a first liquid sending device for sending liquid from the liquid storing container to the head tank, a pressure adjusting tank storing liquid auctioned from the liquid ejecting head, and a second liquid sending device for sending liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the pressure adjusting tank.
- the head tank includes a liquid receiving port for receiving liquid from the liquid storing container via a liquid receiving valve that is opened at a predetermined or less pressure and a liquid feeding port for feeding liquid to the liquid ejecting head and the liquid ejecting head includes a liquid inflow port communicating with the liquid feeding port and a liquid outflow port communicating with the pressure adjusting tank via the second liquid sending device.
- the recording head is provided with the liquid inflow port and outflow port so that liquid or ink is allowed to flow from the inflow port to the out flow port in the recording head and to be discharged from the outflow port to the pressure adjusting tank, it is possible to discharge air bubbles from the inside of the recording head easily and it is possible to eject from the nozzle liquid which does not contain an air bubble that easily causes abnormal ejection of the recording head. Thereby, it is possible to attain stable and high-speed feeding of a large amount of liquid to the recording head and highly-reliable liquid-ejection of the recording head.
- the pressure adjusting tank communicates with atmosphere and the level of liquid inside thereof lies at a position lower than the nozzle of the recording head, it is possible to maintain the negative pressure of a recording head part due to the difference between the position of the nozzle and the position of the level of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank. Furthermore, when the liquid receiving port includes a valve, it is possible to control feeding of liquid from the liquid storing container. Thereby, efficient feeding of liquid to the head tank is allowed.
- the head tank includes an air discharging device
- air in the head tank is removed by an air discharging device whereby it is possible to feed liquid from the liquid storing container easily.
- a flow resistance controlling device for controlling the flow resistance of a flow channel from the liquid outflow port to the pressure adjusting tank it is possible to reduce the flow resistance of a flow channel from the head tank to the liquid inflow port in a required range easily, according to need.
- the ejection flow rate of the recording head is increased by increase of the number of nozzles or even when the pressure of nozzle suction caused by capping of the recording head is increased so as to discharge air from the nozzle strongly, it is possible to prevent back flow of liquid from the pressure adjusting tank.
- the flow resistance controlling device is configured to be controlled by the working pressure of liquid, air, or the like of the first liquid sending device, no actuator, valve or the like for merely controlling the resistance of fluid is required and no complex control mechanism is required to provide, whereby it is possible to provide a simple equipment.
- the first liquid sending device configured to pressurize liquid in the liquid storing container by means of an air pressure, there is no deficiency such as evaporation, thickening, or sticking of liquid when it is used, and it is possible to attain a highly reliable liquid ejecting device.
- the pressure adjusting tank is configured to include an atmosphere valve which makes an inside thereof to be at a state of non-communication with atmosphere, it is possible to prevent inflow and outflow of liquid from the pressure adjusting tank to the recording head.
- the amount of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank is maintained in a predetermined range, it is possible to retain the negative pressure of the recording head stably and it is possible to attain a highly-reliable liquid ejecting device.
- a configuration including a liquid return flow channel which provides the liquid storing container communicating with the pressure adjusting tank and a return flow channel opening or closing valve for opening or closing the liquid return flow channel, it is possible to create a liquid flow directing from the inflow port to outflow port of the recording head so as to discharge air bubbles in the recording head completely and to return excessive liquid stored in the pressure adjusting tank to the liquid storing container, whereby it is possible to intend effective utilization of liquid.
- An image forming apparatus including the liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is allowed to ensure a sufficient amount of ink to be fed even if it has a long tube, and it is possible to attain a highly reliable image forming apparatus in which no printed-image deterioration caused by inclusion of an air bubble(s) is found.
- FIGS. 1A , 1 B, and 1 C illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 1A , 1 B, and 1 C are a front view, right side view, and top view illustrating the essential part of an ink jet printer that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the ink jet printer according to the first embodiment is a preferable example to which a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and uses ink as liquid.
- the ink jet printer holds a carriage 120 by a guide rod 122 and a guide rail 128 which are guide members extending on left and right side plates 123 L, 123 R such that it is slidable in its main-scanning directions (longitudinal directions of the guide rod) and moves it for scanning in the longitudinal directions of the guide rod 122 (main-scanning directions) by a main-scanning motor and a timing belt which are not illustrated in the figures.
- a recording head 1 that is a liquid ejecting head for ejecting an ink drop of each color such as, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), or black (B) is mounted such that plural ink ejection ports are arranged in the directions intersecting the main-scanning directions and the direction of ink drop ejection is downward.
- Y yellow
- C cyan
- M magenta
- B black
- the recording head 1 is composed of a heater substrate 2 and a liquid chamber forming member 3 as illustrated in an enlarged view of the recording head in FIG. 2 and ejects ink fed through a flow channel formed on a head base member 9 connected to a head tank 101 .
- the recording head 1 is a thermal-type one wherein an ejection pressure is obtained by the film boiling of ink due to driving of a heater 4 , and has a side-shooter-type configuration wherein the direction of ink flow to an ejection energy action part (heater part) in a liquid chamber 6 is perpendicular to the central axis of the opening of a nozzle 5 .
- the recording head 1 there are provided various types such as one obtaining an ejection pressure by deforming a vibration plate using a piezoelectric element, by deforming a vibration plate by means of an electrostatic force, and the like, and any type is allowed to apply to an embodiment of the present invention.
- a thermal head type has an advantage such that it is easier to make its nozzle density to be a high density than the other types, air bubbles are easily generated in the head in principle and there is a problem of air bubble discharge.
- a liquid drop ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention to discharge air bubbles generated in the head easily even in case of a thermal head type.
- an edge shooter type is provided wherein ejection directions are different.
- a conventional edge-shooter-type liquid drop ejecting device there is a problem of a so-called cavitation phenomenon, wherein the heater 4 is gradually broken by impact at a time when air bubbles vanish.
- sir bubbles grow even in the edge-shooter-type one and if the air bubbles reach the nozzle 5 , the air bubbles communicate with atmosphere, so that an air bubble shrinkage caused by a temperature decrease does not occur. Therefore, the life span of the recording head is not reduced.
- an ink jet printer mainly, its liquid drop ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention
- a paper sheet 8 on which an image is formed is delivered to a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the main-scanning directions.
- the paper sheet 8 is sandwiched between a delivery roller 125 and a pressure control roller 126 , delivered to a character printing part, and sent to an image printing guide part 129 .
- Scanning of the carriage 120 in the main-scanning directions and ink ejection from the recording head 1 are synchronized at an appropriate timing based on image data so that a one-band image is formed on the paper sheet 8 .
- the paper sheet is moved to the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount and a recording operation similar to the above-mentioned one is conducted. These operations are conducted repeatedly, so that formation of a one-page image is conducted.
- the head tank 101 in which an ink chamber for temporarily storing ink to be ejected is formed is integrally connected to the top of the recording head 1 .
- the term “integrally” used herein also includes that the recording head 1 and the head tank 101 are connected by a tube, a pipe or the like and means that both of them are mounted on the carriage together.
- the ink chamber of the head tank 101 is connected to a liquid feeding tube 16 that is a first liquid-sending device, and communicates with an ink cartridge 76 that is a liquid storing container.
- FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the structure of the head tank 101 .
- FIG. 3A is a front view of the head tank 101
- FIG. 3B is an AA cross-sectional view of the head tank 101 . Additionally, in both figures, depiction of a component may be omitted appropriately and a cross-sectional view may be provided partially, to help someone understand.
- a filter 109 is provided near a connection part with the recording head 1 inside the head tank 101 and is configured to feed to the recording head 1 ink from which contaminants and the like have been removed by its filtration. Furthermore, a film member 107 is provided on one wall surface of the head tank on the one side thereof, and is pressurized by a spring 108 to the directions along which the volume of the head tank 101 could be increased. Thereby, the film member 107 has a convex form expanding to the outside of the head tank, as illustrated in FIG. 3B .
- the head tank 101 is provided with an ink receiving port that is a liquid receiving port with a liquid receiving valve 105 which is opened or closed according to the operation of the film member 107 .
- the ink receiving port provides an ink chamber 106 communicating with a pressurization chamber 102 , wherein the liquid receiving valve 105 controls their communication or non-communication by opening or closing thereof.
- the liquid receiving valve 105 of the ink receiving port is closed but when ink in the ink chamber 106 is consumed and reduced as illustrated in FIG. 3C and the internal pressure of the ink chamber 106 is reduced so as to be a predetermined value or less, the film member 107 is deformed to warp toward the inside of the ink chamber 106 so that a working rod of the liquid receiving valve 105 is pressurized to provide a closed state.
- An air quantity detecting sensor 103 for detecting an internal air quantity is provided on the top of the head tank.
- air quantity detecting sensors 103 , 103 a and 103 b are electrodes whose tips are provided at different heights such that it is possible to detect plural liquid surface states.
- the ceiling surface of the ink chamber 106 is provided with a gradient and a maintenance port 113 is provided near its top portion, so as to provide a configuration such that removal of air in the head tank or the like is allowed to conduct easily.
- the maintenance port 113 is made by an elastic body such as a rubber and an attachable/detachable configuration is desirable.
- the head tank 101 is provided with a pressurization chamber 102 via an ink feeding port 110 that is a liquid receiving port for receiving liquid.
- the pressurization chamber 102 is connected to a liquid feeding tube 16 that is a first liquid-sending device illustrated in FIGS. 1A , 1 B, and 1 C.
- the ink feeding port 110 includes the liquid receiving valve 105 for incorporating liquid in the head tank according to need.
- the bottom portion of the head tank 101 is connected to the recording head 1 .
- an ink inflow port 25 as a liquid inflow port and an ink outflow port 26 as a liquid outflow port are provided on both sides of a common flow channel 7 .
- the ink inflow port 25 communicates with the ink chamber 106 through the filter 109 and the ink outflow port 26 communicates with an air bubble discharging port 111 .
- the air bubble discharging port 111 that is also a liquid outflow port is connected to a discharge tube 112 as a second liquid-sending device.
- the discharge tube 112 is thinner than the liquid feeding tube 16 .
- one end of the liquid feeding tube 16 is connected to a cartridge holder 77 fixed on a body and communicates with the ink cartridge 76 through a pipe line not illustrated in the figures in the cartridge holder 77 .
- One end of the discharge tube 112 communicates into the inside of ink stored in a pressure adjusting tank 70 that also serves as an air bubble discharging container fixed on a body.
- the ink cartridge is pressurized by a pump 78 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment, no insufficient refilling of ink for the recording head 1 occurs even if the liquid feeding tube 16 is long and the fluid resistance of the tube is large, for example, as in a recording device for printing a character on a wide medium. Furthermore, a consumed quantity of ink is automatically supplied from the ink chamber 106 on which the liquid receiving valve 105 is provided, and if the ink chamber 106 is filled with ink, supply of ink is stopped so that no excessive ink is supplied by a pump 78 .
- FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an ink feeding system for the head tank 1 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment.
- the ink cartridge 76 in which ink has been stored includes an ink bag 76 a in which ink is contained and a case member 76 b for containing the ink bag 76 a at an enclosed state, wherein an air space 76 c that is an enclosed space between the ink bag 76 a and the case member 76 b is connected to a pressurizing pump 78 for admitting and releasing air.
- the ink bag 76 a is connected to the ink feeding tube (liquid feeding tube) 16 .
- a filter 75 is provided somewhere on the ink feeding tube 16 .
- the ink feeding tube 16 is a plastic tube and is connected to the pressurization chamber 102 provided in the head tank 101 illustrated in FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C.
- the air bubble discharging port 111 of the tank 101 is connected to the discharge tube 112 that is a plastic tube, and communicates with the pressure adjusting tank 70 .
- a suction pump 79 for suctioning air remaining in the common flow channel 7 of the recording head 1 is provided for the discharge tube 112 .
- On the top of the pressure adjusting tank 70 an air release port 53 is provided to keep it at an atmospheric pressure.
- a liquid level detecting sensor 74 is provided in the pressure adjusting tank 70 so that it is possible to detect the quantity of ink in the tank.
- a waste liquid port 93 is provided on the bottom of the pressure adjusting tank 70 and is connected to a drain tube 94 communicating with a waste liquid tank 90 via a waste liquid valve 91 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates a liquid ejecting device at the state before initial ink filling.
- the maintenance port 113 on the top of the head tank 101 is detached, and instead, a discharge tube 114 provided with a discharge device 95 at one end thereof is connected.
- the discharge device 95 it is possible to use an electrical pump or the like, and however a simple suction device based on a manual piston is also sufficient.
- the pressurizing pump 78 is driven so as to pressurize the ink bag 76 a of the ink cartridge 76 .
- the liquid receiving valve 105 in the head tank 101 is at the closed state as illustrated in FIG. 3B , no ink is send to the ink chamber 106 of the head tank 101 .
- a nozzle face is made closely contact with a cap 83 and the discharge device 95 is operated while keeping the space between the nozzle face and the cap 83 at a closed state, whereby air in the head tank 101 is discharged. On this condition, a negative pressure is generated in the ink chamber 106 .
- the liquid receiving valve 105 provided on the liquid receiving port of the ink chamber 106 is a valve configured to open when the ink chamber 106 comes to a predetermined negative pressure. As a negative pressure is generated in the ink chamber 106 by a discharge operation of the discharge device 95 , the liquid receiving valve 105 goes into an opened state. As the liquid receiving valve 105 is opened, ink in the ink cartridge 76 passes through the liquid feeding tube 16 and the pressurization chamber 102 and is fed to the ink chamber 106 .
- the discharge operation of the discharge device 95 is ended. If the discharge operation of the discharge device 95 is ended, the ink chamber 106 has a pressure equal to that of atmosphere, and therefore, the liquid receiving valve 105 is closed to stop the inflow of ink.
- the air quantity detecting sensor 103 may be used, and if the ink chamber 106 has a structure that is allowed to view it from its outside, it is possible to conduct detection using an optical sensor or detection may be conducted based on visual observation. Because the ink chamber 106 also goes into a non-negative pressure by stopping the discharge operation of the discharge device 95 , inflow of ink from the ink cartridge 76 to the ink chamber 106 is also stopped automatically.
- the suction pump 79 is driven so as to suction air and ink in the discharge tube 112 in the direction of arrow C. Due to the suction operation, ink passes through the filter 109 , pushes out air in the common flow channel 7 of the recording head 1 to the ink outflow port 26 , and is stored in the recording head 1 . The ink further passes through the discharge tube 112 and is stored in the pressure adjusting tank 70 .
- the air release port 53 is provided on the top of the pressure adjusting tank 70 , air present in the recording head 1 or the discharge tube 112 is discharged from the air release port 53 .
- the liquid receiving valve 105 opens and ink is fed from the ink cartridge 76 into the ink chamber 106 .
- the suction pump 79 is stopped.
- the nozzle face is suctioned via the cap 83 by a pump that is connected to the cap 83 and not illustrated in the figure(s) and thus a separate liquid chamber of the recording head 1 is filled with ink.
- the nozzle face is wiped by wiping means that are not illustrated in the figure(s) and an ink meniscus is formed on a nozzle 5 of the recording head 1 , thereby completing the initial filling.
- the level of ink in the pressure adjusting tank 70 is set at a position lower in a distance by “h” than the nozzle 5 of the recording head 1 .
- the distance “h” is set at a water head difference at which it is possible to obtain an appropriate ejection performance of the recording head 1 , it is possible to obtain a stable ink ejection performance.
- the liquid level detecting sensors 74 a and 74 b in the pressure adjusting tank 70 are provided so as to detect a water head difference range in which it is possible to conduct normal ink ejection.
- the tip of the liquid level detecting sensor 74 a is provided at a position corresponding to the maximum water head difference (for example, a distance of 100 mm from the nozzle face) and the tip of the liquid level detecting sensor 74 b is provided at a position corresponding to the minimum water head difference (for example, a distance of 20 mm from the nozzle face).
- the working pressure of opening or closing of the liquid receiving valve 105 is set between a pressure corresponding to the above-mentioned maximum water head difference and a pressure corresponding to the minimum water head difference
- the level of ink in the pressure adjusting tank 70 is stable between the liquid level detecting sensors 74 a and 74 b and the negative pressure in the ink chamber 106 is maintained by the water head difference that is determined at the position “h” of the ink level.
- the ink cartridge 76 is pressurized by the pump 78 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment, for example, even if the liquid feeding tube 16 is long and the fluid resistance of the tube is large as in a recording device for printing a character on a wide medium, no insufficient refilling of ink for the recording head 1 occurs. Furthermore, because the liquid receiving valve 105 is provided, no excessive ink is supplied by the pump 78 and a consumed quantity of ink is automatically supplied from the inside of the ink chamber 106 .
- the pressure adjusting tank 70 for maintaining a proper negative pressure is connected to the common flow channel of the recording head 1 , it is possible to conduct stable ink ejection under the proper negative pressure. Furthermore, because the discharge tube 112 is thinner than the liquid feeding tube 16 , it is possible to suppress the back flow of ink from the side of the pressure adjusting tank 70 by cap suction for a usual liquid ejection operation or air bubble discharge.
- FIG. 8 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment.
- the present ink feeding system for a head tank has configurations similar to those of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in FIG. 4 , but the configurations of first liquid-sending device and liquid storing container parts of a head tank 101 at its upstream side are different. Whereas the ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in FIG.
- the ink feeding system for a head tank has a configuration such that a pump 78 is provided at the midpoint of an ink feeding tube 16 and ink liquid is sent from an ink cartridge 76 to the head tank 101 by the pump 78 .
- the ink feeding tube 16 is connected to a pressure sensor 104 and the pump 78 is driven so as to maintain a constant pressure during printing a character.
- a bidirectional-liquid-sending-type one such as a tubing pump is preferable. Because the liquid feeding tube 16 is interposed by an extendable tank 92 whose volume is changeable and ink liquid is sent in bidirectionally and alternately by the pump 78 during printing no character so that the ink is moved back and forth and stirred between the extendable tank 92 and the ink cartridge 76 , a deficiency such as sedimentation of a pigment component does not occur whereby it is possible to keep the ink quality constant and it is possible to conduct ink feeding with a stable quality.
- FIG. 9 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment.
- the present ink feeding system for a head tank has configurations similar to those of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in FIG. 4 and is different in that a working chamber for changing the flow resistance of a flow channel is provided in a flow channel at the downstream side of an ink outflow port 26 of a recording head 1 .
- the working chamber 116 is provided adjacent to an air bubble discharging channel 27 providing an air bubble discharging port 111 communicating with the ink outflow port 26 of the recording head 1 .
- the working chamber 116 and the air bubble discharging channel 27 are partitioned by an elastic wall 117 with elasticity.
- the working chamber 116 communicates with an ink feeding tube 16 via a working fluid feeding tube 17 .
- an ink bag 76 a is not only pressurized but also the internal pressure of the working chamber 116 is raised, whereby the elastic wall 117 is deformed and the air bubble discharging channel 27 is narrowed, as illustrated in FIG. 10 .
- the air bubble discharging channel 27 is closed by the elastic wall 117 whereby it is possible to prevent backflow of ink from a pressure adjusting tank 70 .
- FIG. 11 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment.
- the present ink feeding system for a head tank is a variation of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in FIG. 9 , and is different from that of FIG. 9 in that the configurations of first liquid-sending device and liquid storing container parts of a head tank 101 at the upstream side thereof are similar to those of the ink feeding system for head tank as illustrated in FIG. 4 and a working chamber 116 communicates with an air space 76 c of an ink cartridge 76 .
- the working chamber 116 communicates with the air space 76 c of the ink cartridge 76 via a working fluid feeding tube 17 .
- Air is sent from the air space 76 c to the working chamber 116 by driving a pump 78 for pressurizing an ink bag 76 a, whereby an elastic wall 117 is deformed and an air bubble discharging channel 27 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 13 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment.
- the ink feeding system according to the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the ink feeding system of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 , and is different in a configuration such that a pressure adjusting tank 70 communicates with an ink bag 76 a of a liquid storing container via a return flow channel opening or closing valve 96 and a pump 78 has a discharging function.
- the ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in FIG. 13 has a configuration such that an air bubble discharging port 111 of a head tank 101 is connected to a discharge tube 112 and it is possible to send air in a common flow channel 7 of a recording head 1 to a pressure adjusting tank 70 by a suction pump 79 arranged at the midpoint of the discharge tube 112 .
- the bottom of the pressure adjusting tank 70 of the present embodiment is connected to a liquid return flow channel 18 and communicates with the ink bag 76 a via the return flow channel opening or closing valve 96 .
- the return flow channel opening or closing valve 96 is commonly a valve at its closed state.
- the pressure adjusting tank 70 is connected to the waste liquid tank 90 via the drain tube 94 and when the level of ink in the pressure adjusting tank 70 reaches the liquid level detecting sensor 74 b by a discharging operation of the recording head 1 , the ink is discharged into the waste liquid tank 90 and the level of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank 70 is retained between the two liquid level detecting sensors 74 a and 74 b in the ink feeding system of the second embodiment, the pump 78 is operated for discharging and the return flow channel opening or closing valve 96 is opened when the level of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank 70 reaches a liquid level detecting sensor 74 b in the present embodiment.
- ink in the pressure adjusting tank 70 is returned into the ink bag 76 a and the level of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank 70 is lowered.
- the return flow channel opening or closing valve 96 is closed and the pump 78 is stopped. Because, in the ink feeding system of the present embodiment, it is possible to reuse ink as is wasted in the above-mentioned ink feeding system, it is possible to attain a liquid ejecting device with a low running cost.
- a sixth embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus with the liquid ejecting device described for any one of the first to fifth embodiments described hereinbefore.
- the image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention as described for any one of the first to fifth embodiments in an image forming apparatus using ink, such as a conventional ink jet printer, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, and the like.
- a liquid ejecting device for ejecting liquid other than ink, for example, a DNA sample, a resist, a pattern material, or the like, as well as a liquid ejecting device for ejecting ink. Furthermore, it is possible to apply no only to a narrowly-defined image forming apparatus but also to a pattern forming apparatus for forming a pattern such as a DNA sample or a resist.
- a liquid ejecting device that does not cause insufficient refilling even in the case where ink feeding with a large flow rate is required, is allowed to discharge an air bubble(s) of a recording head sufficiently, and provides the recording head with an improved ejection stability, and an image forming apparatus with the same.
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Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting device and an image forming apparatus including the same.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- As on-demand-type ink jet (IJ) recording techniques, there have been well-known an ink ejecting method in which a vibration plate is provided on a part of the wall of a liquid chamber filled with ink and the vibrating plate is displaced by a piezoelectric actuator or the like so as to change the volume of the liquid chamber and increase the pressure therein, and an ink ejecting method in which a heater to be heated by its energization is provided in a liquid chamber and the inner pressure of the liquid chamber is increased by means of air bubbles generated by heating of the heater. Recently, the IJ technique has been applied no only to a low-price printer but also to image formation for a wide-format poster, a sign board and the like. In a business application or an industrial application, particularly, for improvement of image formation throughput, that is, speeding-up of an image formation rate, are desired, and a method of feeding ink (re-fill) from a high-capacity ink cartridge installed in its body through a tube into a head tank (also called a sub-tank) on the top of a head has been commonly used. When such an ink refill method using a tube is applied, it is possible to lighten and miniaturize its carriage part and accordingly it is possible to miniaturize an apparatus including its structural system and driving system greatly.
- As increase of the number of nozzle heads for further improvement of a printing throughout, increase of the flow rate of ink liquid to be fed due to attainment of a high head-driving frequency, and a high viscosity of ink for its short time drying are attainted, a problem of insufficient refilling occurs due to the pressure loss of the fluid resistance of a tube. Because the length of a tube is large, particularly, in an apparatus for recording on a large-sized printing medium, the pressure loss is large accordingly and the problem is serious.
- Against such a problem, as an ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Application No. 2006-088564, it may be useful to pressurize ink at its feeding side and to provide a differential pressure regulating valve at the upstream side of a sub-tank whereby ink is fed when the negative pressure of the inside of the sub-tank is greater than a predetermined pressure. The ink feeding system disclosed therein is configured to circulate ink through a reservoir tank fixed on its body and the sub-tank mounted on a carriage whereby it is possible to discharge air bubbles together with the ink. Then, there is provided a difference between the fluid resistances of the feeding rout and return route of an ink circulating route, so that the sub-tank is kept at a pressurization state by an ink circulating pressure. A recording head is connected to the sub-tank through the differential pressure regulating valve, and is configured such that ink is fed from the sub-tank to the recording head when the recording head has a predetermined or less negative pressure. Thereby, the aforementioned insufficient refilling may be solved. However, because ink in the sub-tank is merely circulated through the upstream reservoir tank and air bubbles generating in a recording head are merely discharged by means of suction in the ink feeding system, the important efficiency of air bubble discharge of the recording head is insufficient and there is a problem in the stability of ink ejection from a nozzle. In particular, when the length of the head is increased, the efficiency of air bubble discharge may be deteriorated so that sufficient ejection stability may not be ensured.
- Meanwhile, an ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,252,392 has a configuration so as to provide a good efficiency of air bubble discharge of a recording head part. In the ink feeding system, an ink cartridge and a sub-tank are connected to one side and the other side of a common liquid chamber of a recording head, respectively, wherein pressurization of the ink cartridge and atmospheric pressure release of the sub-tank are conducted appropriately so as to move ink between them whereby it is possible to discharge air bubbles in the common liquid chamber of the head.
- As described above, the ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-088564 may solve the problem of ink refilling but the efficiency of air bubble discharge of the head may be insufficient when the length of the head is increased, and its ejection stability may not be ensured. In the ink feeding system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3,252,392 may provide a good efficiency of air bubble discharge of the head but it is impossible to solve the problem of ink refilling.
- In such a situation, the inventor has found that there is provided a liquid ejecting device that does not cause insufficient refilling even in the case where ink feeding with a large flow rate is required, is allowed to discharge an air bubble(s) of a recording head sufficiently, and provides the recording head with an improved ejection stability, and an image forming apparatus with the same.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting device including a liquid ejecting head including a liquid ejecting nozzle, a head tank configured to store liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid storing container configured to store liquid to be fed to the head tank, a first liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid storing container to the head tank, a pressure adjusting tank configured to store liquid suctioned from the liquid ejecting head, and a second liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the pressure adjusting tank, wherein the head tank includes a liquid receiving port configured to receive liquid from the liquid storing container via a liquid receiving valve being opened at a predetermined or less pressure and a liquid feeding port configured to feed liquid to the liquid ejecting head and the liquid ejecting head includes a liquid inflow port communicating with the liquid feeding port and a liquid outflow port communicating with the pressure adjusting tank via the second liquid sending device.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the liquid ejecting device as described above.
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FIGS. 1A , 1B, and 1C are a front view, side view, and top view of an ink jet printer in which a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, respectively. -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an ejection head. -
FIGS. 3A , 3B, and 3C are diagrams illustrating an operation of a valve of a head tank. -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating system (1) for feeding ink to a head tank. -
FIG. 5 is a diagram prior to feeding of ink to a head tank. -
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the state where ink has been fed to a head tank. -
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating feeding of ink to a recording head. -
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system (2) for feeding ink to a head tank. -
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a system (3) for feeding ink to a head tank. -
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation for preventing back flow of ink due to an elastic wall of a head tank. -
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a system (4) for feeding ink to a head tank. -
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation for preventing back flow of ink due to an elastic wall of a head tank. -
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a system (5) for feeding ink to a head tank. - A liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid ejecting head (also referred to a recording head) including a liquid ejecting nozzle, a head tank for storing liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid storing container for storing liquid to be fed to the head tank, a first liquid sending device for sending liquid from the liquid storing container to the head tank, a pressure adjusting tank storing liquid auctioned from the liquid ejecting head, and a second liquid sending device for sending liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the pressure adjusting tank. Herein, the head tank includes a liquid receiving port for receiving liquid from the liquid storing container via a liquid receiving valve that is opened at a predetermined or less pressure and a liquid feeding port for feeding liquid to the liquid ejecting head and the liquid ejecting head includes a liquid inflow port communicating with the liquid feeding port and a liquid outflow port communicating with the pressure adjusting tank via the second liquid sending device.
- Accordingly, because it is always possible to feed liquid from the liquid storing container on-demand while the inside of a liquid feeding channel of the recording head is maintained at an appropriate negative pressure by the pressure adjusting tank, it is possible to feed liquid to the recording head stably without causing its insufficient feeding even if the flow rate of ejected liquid is increased due to a long-size of the recording head or the like or the flow resistance of a liquid feeding channel is increased due to a long-tube-type of feeding tube or the like. Furthermore, because the recording head is provided with the liquid inflow port and outflow port so that liquid or ink is allowed to flow from the inflow port to the out flow port in the recording head and to be discharged from the outflow port to the pressure adjusting tank, it is possible to discharge air bubbles from the inside of the recording head easily and it is possible to eject from the nozzle liquid which does not contain an air bubble that easily causes abnormal ejection of the recording head. Thereby, it is possible to attain stable and high-speed feeding of a large amount of liquid to the recording head and highly-reliable liquid-ejection of the recording head.
- Where the pressure adjusting tank communicates with atmosphere and the level of liquid inside thereof lies at a position lower than the nozzle of the recording head, it is possible to maintain the negative pressure of a recording head part due to the difference between the position of the nozzle and the position of the level of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank. Furthermore, when the liquid receiving port includes a valve, it is possible to control feeding of liquid from the liquid storing container. Thereby, efficient feeding of liquid to the head tank is allowed.
- Where the head tank includes an air discharging device, it is possible to remove air in the head tank and it is possible to facilitate feeding of liquid from the liquid storing container. In particular, when liquid is fed on the condition that no liquid is contained in the head tank, air in the head tank is removed by an air discharging device whereby it is possible to feed liquid from the liquid storing container easily.
- Where the flow resistance of a flow channel from the head tank to the liquid inflow port is less than the flow resistance of a flow channel from the liquid outflow port to the pressure adjusting tank, inflow of liquid from the head tank is facilitated and back flow of liquid from the pressure adjusting tank to the recording head is suppressed at the time of liquid ejection from the recording head or an operation of cap suction from the nozzle of the recording head, whereby it is possible to maintain the negative pressure of the recording head stably.
- Where a flow resistance controlling device for controlling the flow resistance of a flow channel from the liquid outflow port to the pressure adjusting tank is included, it is possible to reduce the flow resistance of a flow channel from the head tank to the liquid inflow port in a required range easily, according to need. Thereby, even when the ejection flow rate of the recording head is increased by increase of the number of nozzles or even when the pressure of nozzle suction caused by capping of the recording head is increased so as to discharge air from the nozzle strongly, it is possible to prevent back flow of liquid from the pressure adjusting tank. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a compact and low-cost pump for air discharge which creates a flow directing the inflow port to outflow port of the recording head so as to discharge air. Where the flow resistance controlling device is configured to be controlled by the working pressure of liquid, air, or the like of the first liquid sending device, no actuator, valve or the like for merely controlling the resistance of fluid is required and no complex control mechanism is required to provide, whereby it is possible to provide a simple equipment.
- Where it is possible to provide the first liquid sending device configured to pressurize liquid in the liquid storing container by means of an air pressure, there is no deficiency such as evaporation, thickening, or sticking of liquid when it is used, and it is possible to attain a highly reliable liquid ejecting device.
- Where the pressure adjusting tank is configured to include an atmosphere valve which makes an inside thereof to be at a state of non-communication with atmosphere, it is possible to prevent inflow and outflow of liquid from the pressure adjusting tank to the recording head. Where the amount of liquid in the pressure adjusting tank is maintained in a predetermined range, it is possible to retain the negative pressure of the recording head stably and it is possible to attain a highly-reliable liquid ejecting device.
- Where there is provided a configuration including a liquid return flow channel which provides the liquid storing container communicating with the pressure adjusting tank and a return flow channel opening or closing valve for opening or closing the liquid return flow channel, it is possible to create a liquid flow directing from the inflow port to outflow port of the recording head so as to discharge air bubbles in the recording head completely and to return excessive liquid stored in the pressure adjusting tank to the liquid storing container, whereby it is possible to intend effective utilization of liquid.
- An image forming apparatus including the liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is allowed to ensure a sufficient amount of ink to be fed even if it has a long tube, and it is possible to attain a highly reliable image forming apparatus in which no printed-image deterioration caused by inclusion of an air bubble(s) is found.
- Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
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FIGS. 1A , 1B, and 1C illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 1A , 1B, and 1C are a front view, right side view, and top view illustrating the essential part of an ink jet printer that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet printer according to the first embodiment is a preferable example to which a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and uses ink as liquid. The ink jet printer holds acarriage 120 by aguide rod 122 and aguide rail 128 which are guide members extending on left andright side plates carriage 120, arecording head 1 that is a liquid ejecting head for ejecting an ink drop of each color such as, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), or black (B) is mounted such that plural ink ejection ports are arranged in the directions intersecting the main-scanning directions and the direction of ink drop ejection is downward. - The
recording head 1 is composed of aheater substrate 2 and a liquid chamber forming member 3 as illustrated in an enlarged view of the recording head inFIG. 2 and ejects ink fed through a flow channel formed on ahead base member 9 connected to ahead tank 101. Therecording head 1 is a thermal-type one wherein an ejection pressure is obtained by the film boiling of ink due to driving of a heater 4, and has a side-shooter-type configuration wherein the direction of ink flow to an ejection energy action part (heater part) in aliquid chamber 6 is perpendicular to the central axis of the opening of anozzle 5. For therecording head 1, there are provided various types such as one obtaining an ejection pressure by deforming a vibration plate using a piezoelectric element, by deforming a vibration plate by means of an electrostatic force, and the like, and any type is allowed to apply to an embodiment of the present invention. Conventionally, whereas a thermal head type has an advantage such that it is easier to make its nozzle density to be a high density than the other types, air bubbles are easily generated in the head in principle and there is a problem of air bubble discharge. However, it is possible for a liquid drop ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention to discharge air bubbles generated in the head easily even in case of a thermal head type. - Among the thermal head types, otherwise, an edge shooter type is provided wherein ejection directions are different. In a conventional edge-shooter-type liquid drop ejecting device, there is a problem of a so-called cavitation phenomenon, wherein the heater 4 is gradually broken by impact at a time when air bubbles vanish. In a liquid drop ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, sir bubbles grow even in the edge-shooter-type one and if the air bubbles reach the
nozzle 5, the air bubbles communicate with atmosphere, so that an air bubble shrinkage caused by a temperature decrease does not occur. Therefore, the life span of the recording head is not reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to convert energy from the heater 4 into formation of ink drops and the kinetic energy of their ejection more efficiently and a structural advantage is provided such that reset of the meniscus due to ink feeding is also speedy. - The operation of an ink jet printer, mainly, its liquid drop ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to
FIG. 1 . Under thecarriage 120, apaper sheet 8 on which an image is formed is delivered to a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the main-scanning directions. As illustrated in the side view ofFIG. 1B , thepaper sheet 8 is sandwiched between adelivery roller 125 and apressure control roller 126, delivered to a character printing part, and sent to an imageprinting guide part 129. Scanning of thecarriage 120 in the main-scanning directions and ink ejection from therecording head 1 are synchronized at an appropriate timing based on image data so that a one-band image is formed on thepaper sheet 8. After the formation of the one-band image has been completed, the paper sheet is moved to the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount and a recording operation similar to the above-mentioned one is conducted. These operations are conducted repeatedly, so that formation of a one-page image is conducted. - In the liquid drop ejecting device according to the present embodiment, the
head tank 101 in which an ink chamber for temporarily storing ink to be ejected is formed is integrally connected to the top of therecording head 1. The term “integrally” used herein also includes that therecording head 1 and thehead tank 101 are connected by a tube, a pipe or the like and means that both of them are mounted on the carriage together. The ink chamber of thehead tank 101 is connected to aliquid feeding tube 16 that is a first liquid-sending device, and communicates with anink cartridge 76 that is a liquid storing container.FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the structure of thehead tank 101.FIG. 3A is a front view of thehead tank 101 andFIG. 3B is an AA cross-sectional view of thehead tank 101. Additionally, in both figures, depiction of a component may be omitted appropriately and a cross-sectional view may be provided partially, to help someone understand. - A
filter 109 is provided near a connection part with therecording head 1 inside thehead tank 101 and is configured to feed to therecording head 1 ink from which contaminants and the like have been removed by its filtration. Furthermore, afilm member 107 is provided on one wall surface of the head tank on the one side thereof, and is pressurized by aspring 108 to the directions along which the volume of thehead tank 101 could be increased. Thereby, thefilm member 107 has a convex form expanding to the outside of the head tank, as illustrated inFIG. 3B . Thehead tank 101 is provided with an ink receiving port that is a liquid receiving port with aliquid receiving valve 105 which is opened or closed according to the operation of thefilm member 107. The ink receiving port provides anink chamber 106 communicating with apressurization chamber 102, wherein theliquid receiving valve 105 controls their communication or non-communication by opening or closing thereof. Usually, theliquid receiving valve 105 of the ink receiving port is closed but when ink in theink chamber 106 is consumed and reduced as illustrated inFIG. 3C and the internal pressure of theink chamber 106 is reduced so as to be a predetermined value or less, thefilm member 107 is deformed to warp toward the inside of theink chamber 106 so that a working rod of theliquid receiving valve 105 is pressurized to provide a closed state. - An air
quantity detecting sensor 103 for detecting an internal air quantity is provided on the top of the head tank. In thehead tank 101 illustrated inFIGS. 3A , 3B and 3C, airquantity detecting sensors ink chamber 106 is provided with a gradient and amaintenance port 113 is provided near its top portion, so as to provide a configuration such that removal of air in the head tank or the like is allowed to conduct easily. Themaintenance port 113 is made by an elastic body such as a rubber and an attachable/detachable configuration is desirable. - The
head tank 101 is provided with apressurization chamber 102 via anink feeding port 110 that is a liquid receiving port for receiving liquid. Thepressurization chamber 102 is connected to aliquid feeding tube 16 that is a first liquid-sending device illustrated inFIGS. 1A , 1B, and 1C. Theink feeding port 110 includes theliquid receiving valve 105 for incorporating liquid in the head tank according to need. - The bottom portion of the
head tank 101 is connected to therecording head 1. In therecording head 1, anink inflow port 25 as a liquid inflow port and anink outflow port 26 as a liquid outflow port are provided on both sides of acommon flow channel 7. Theink inflow port 25 communicates with theink chamber 106 through thefilter 109 and theink outflow port 26 communicates with an airbubble discharging port 111. - The air
bubble discharging port 111 that is also a liquid outflow port is connected to adischarge tube 112 as a second liquid-sending device. Herein, thedischarge tube 112 is thinner than theliquid feeding tube 16. As illustrated inFIGS. 1A , 1B, and 1C, one end of theliquid feeding tube 16 is connected to acartridge holder 77 fixed on a body and communicates with theink cartridge 76 through a pipe line not illustrated in the figures in thecartridge holder 77. One end of thedischarge tube 112 communicates into the inside of ink stored in apressure adjusting tank 70 that also serves as an air bubble discharging container fixed on a body. - Because the ink cartridge is pressurized by a
pump 78 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment, no insufficient refilling of ink for therecording head 1 occurs even if theliquid feeding tube 16 is long and the fluid resistance of the tube is large, for example, as in a recording device for printing a character on a wide medium. Furthermore, a consumed quantity of ink is automatically supplied from theink chamber 106 on which theliquid receiving valve 105 is provided, and if theink chamber 106 is filled with ink, supply of ink is stopped so that no excessive ink is supplied by apump 78. - The liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment is described with reference to
FIG. 4 .FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an ink feeding system for thehead tank 1 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment. Theink cartridge 76 in which ink has been stored includes anink bag 76 a in which ink is contained and acase member 76 b for containing theink bag 76 a at an enclosed state, wherein anair space 76 c that is an enclosed space between theink bag 76 a and thecase member 76 b is connected to a pressurizingpump 78 for admitting and releasing air. Theink bag 76 a is connected to the ink feeding tube (liquid feeding tube) 16. Afilter 75 is provided somewhere on theink feeding tube 16. Theink feeding tube 16 is a plastic tube and is connected to thepressurization chamber 102 provided in thehead tank 101 illustrated inFIGS. 3A , 3B, and 3C. - The air
bubble discharging port 111 of thetank 101 is connected to thedischarge tube 112 that is a plastic tube, and communicates with thepressure adjusting tank 70. Asuction pump 79 for suctioning air remaining in thecommon flow channel 7 of therecording head 1 is provided for thedischarge tube 112. On the top of thepressure adjusting tank 70, anair release port 53 is provided to keep it at an atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, a liquid level detecting sensor 74 is provided in thepressure adjusting tank 70 so that it is possible to detect the quantity of ink in the tank. Awaste liquid port 93 is provided on the bottom of thepressure adjusting tank 70 and is connected to adrain tube 94 communicating with awaste liquid tank 90 via awaste liquid valve 91. - Initial ink filling for the
head tank 101 andrecording head 1 of the liquid ejecting device is described with reference toFIGS. 3A , 3B, and 3C, 5, 6, and 7.FIG. 5 illustrates a liquid ejecting device at the state before initial ink filling. For the initial filling, as illustrated inFIG. 5 , themaintenance port 113 on the top of thehead tank 101 is detached, and instead, adischarge tube 114 provided with adischarge device 95 at one end thereof is connected. For thedischarge device 95, it is possible to use an electrical pump or the like, and however a simple suction device based on a manual piston is also sufficient. - First, the pressurizing
pump 78 is driven so as to pressurize theink bag 76 a of theink cartridge 76. Herein, because theliquid receiving valve 105 in thehead tank 101 is at the closed state as illustrated inFIG. 3B , no ink is send to theink chamber 106 of thehead tank 101. Then, as illustrated inFIG. 6 , a nozzle face is made closely contact with acap 83 and thedischarge device 95 is operated while keeping the space between the nozzle face and thecap 83 at a closed state, whereby air in thehead tank 101 is discharged. On this condition, a negative pressure is generated in theink chamber 106. - The
liquid receiving valve 105 provided on the liquid receiving port of theink chamber 106 is a valve configured to open when theink chamber 106 comes to a predetermined negative pressure. As a negative pressure is generated in theink chamber 106 by a discharge operation of thedischarge device 95, theliquid receiving valve 105 goes into an opened state. As theliquid receiving valve 105 is opened, ink in theink cartridge 76 passes through theliquid feeding tube 16 and thepressurization chamber 102 and is fed to theink chamber 106. - If ink flows into the
head tank 101 and the level of ink is raised such that theink chamber 106 is filled with the ink, the discharge operation of thedischarge device 95 is ended. If the discharge operation of thedischarge device 95 is ended, theink chamber 106 has a pressure equal to that of atmosphere, and therefore, theliquid receiving valve 105 is closed to stop the inflow of ink. For a method for detecting a liquid level in theink chamber 106, the airquantity detecting sensor 103 may be used, and if theink chamber 106 has a structure that is allowed to view it from its outside, it is possible to conduct detection using an optical sensor or detection may be conducted based on visual observation. Because theink chamber 106 also goes into a non-negative pressure by stopping the discharge operation of thedischarge device 95, inflow of ink from theink cartridge 76 to theink chamber 106 is also stopped automatically. - Then, as illustrated in
FIG. 7 , thesuction pump 79 is driven so as to suction air and ink in thedischarge tube 112 in the direction of arrow C. Due to the suction operation, ink passes through thefilter 109, pushes out air in thecommon flow channel 7 of therecording head 1 to theink outflow port 26, and is stored in therecording head 1. The ink further passes through thedischarge tube 112 and is stored in thepressure adjusting tank 70. Herein, because theair release port 53 is provided on the top of thepressure adjusting tank 70, air present in therecording head 1 or thedischarge tube 112 is discharged from theair release port 53. - Because it is possible to drive the
suction pump 79 on the condition that the nozzle face is closed by thecap 83 so that the ink chamber goes into a negative pressure, theliquid receiving valve 105 opens and ink is fed from theink cartridge 76 into theink chamber 106. When the level of ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is raised according to driving of thesuction pump 79 and the ink level is detected by the liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 a, thesuction pump 79 is stopped. - Afterward, the nozzle face is suctioned via the
cap 83 by a pump that is connected to thecap 83 and not illustrated in the figure(s) and thus a separate liquid chamber of therecording head 1 is filled with ink. - Finally, the nozzle face is wiped by wiping means that are not illustrated in the figure(s) and an ink meniscus is formed on a
nozzle 5 of therecording head 1, thereby completing the initial filling. - At this stage, the level of ink in the
pressure adjusting tank 70 is set at a position lower in a distance by “h” than thenozzle 5 of therecording head 1. When the distance “h” is set at a water head difference at which it is possible to obtain an appropriate ejection performance of therecording head 1, it is possible to obtain a stable ink ejection performance. The liquidlevel detecting sensors pressure adjusting tank 70 are provided so as to detect a water head difference range in which it is possible to conduct normal ink ejection. Specifically, the tip of the liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 a is provided at a position corresponding to the maximum water head difference (for example, a distance of 100 mm from the nozzle face) and the tip of the liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 b is provided at a position corresponding to the minimum water head difference (for example, a distance of 20 mm from the nozzle face). - When the working pressure of opening or closing of the
liquid receiving valve 105 is set between a pressure corresponding to the above-mentioned maximum water head difference and a pressure corresponding to the minimum water head difference, the level of ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is stable between the liquidlevel detecting sensors ink chamber 106 is maintained by the water head difference that is determined at the position “h” of the ink level. - Because the
ink cartridge 76 is pressurized by thepump 78 in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment, for example, even if theliquid feeding tube 16 is long and the fluid resistance of the tube is large as in a recording device for printing a character on a wide medium, no insufficient refilling of ink for therecording head 1 occurs. Furthermore, because theliquid receiving valve 105 is provided, no excessive ink is supplied by thepump 78 and a consumed quantity of ink is automatically supplied from the inside of theink chamber 106. - Moreover, because the
pressure adjusting tank 70 for maintaining a proper negative pressure is connected to the common flow channel of therecording head 1, it is possible to conduct stable ink ejection under the proper negative pressure. Furthermore, because thedischarge tube 112 is thinner than theliquid feeding tube 16, it is possible to suppress the back flow of ink from the side of thepressure adjusting tank 70 by cap suction for a usual liquid ejection operation or air bubble discharge. - Next, discharge in the case where air bubbles generate or are incorporated in the
recording head 1 will be described. Whereas it is possible to discharge air bubbles incorporated near thenozzle 5 or in the separate liquid chamber of therecording head 1 easily by the cap suction of the nozzle face, it may be difficult to discharge air bubbles incorporated in thecommon flow channel 7 by means of cap suction, in particular, in the case where therecording head 1 is a long-sized one. In the liquid drop ejecting device according to the present embodiment, it is possible to send air bubbles in thecommon flow channel 7 to thepressure adjusting tank 70 easily by driving thesuction pump 79 and to discharge them from theair release port 53. - For such air discharging from the
common flow channel 7, it is desirable to close the nozzle face by thecap 83 as illustrated inFIG. 7 . It may be possible to avoid inclusion of air bubble from the nozzle more certainly by means of closing of the nozzle face and the suction pressure of thesuction pump 79. Additionally, ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is increased by an air bubble discharging operation of thesuction pump 79. When the level of ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 reaches a position of liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 b which is an upper-limit thereof, thewaste liquid valve 91 is opened so as to discharge ink to thewaste liquid tank 90, and the amount of ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is controlled such that it is a suitable amount. Accordingly, it is possible to keep the negative pressure in theink chamber 106 at a proper pressure value. - A liquid ejecting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 8 .FIG. 8 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment. The present ink feeding system for a head tank has configurations similar to those of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated inFIG. 4 , but the configurations of first liquid-sending device and liquid storing container parts of ahead tank 101 at its upstream side are different. Whereas the ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated inFIG. 4 has a configuration such that theink bag 76 a of theink cartridge 76 is pressurized by an air pressure, the ink feeding system for a head tank according to the present embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 8 has a configuration such that apump 78 is provided at the midpoint of anink feeding tube 16 and ink liquid is sent from anink cartridge 76 to thehead tank 101 by thepump 78. Theink feeding tube 16 is connected to apressure sensor 104 and thepump 78 is driven so as to maintain a constant pressure during printing a character. - For the
pump 78, a bidirectional-liquid-sending-type one such as a tubing pump is preferable. Because theliquid feeding tube 16 is interposed by anextendable tank 92 whose volume is changeable and ink liquid is sent in bidirectionally and alternately by thepump 78 during printing no character so that the ink is moved back and forth and stirred between theextendable tank 92 and theink cartridge 76, a deficiency such as sedimentation of a pigment component does not occur whereby it is possible to keep the ink quality constant and it is possible to conduct ink feeding with a stable quality. - A liquid ejecting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 9 .FIG. 9 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment. The present ink feeding system for a head tank has configurations similar to those of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated inFIG. 4 and is different in that a working chamber for changing the flow resistance of a flow channel is provided in a flow channel at the downstream side of anink outflow port 26 of arecording head 1. - For a
head tank 101 in the ink feeding system for head tank as illustrated inFIG. 9 , the workingchamber 116 is provided adjacent to an airbubble discharging channel 27 providing an airbubble discharging port 111 communicating with theink outflow port 26 of therecording head 1. The workingchamber 116 and the airbubble discharging channel 27 are partitioned by anelastic wall 117 with elasticity. The workingchamber 116 communicates with anink feeding tube 16 via a workingfluid feeding tube 17. - When the
pump 78 is driven in order to assist refilling for therecording head 1 during printing a character in the present ink feeding system, anink bag 76 a is not only pressurized but also the internal pressure of the workingchamber 116 is raised, whereby theelastic wall 117 is deformed and the airbubble discharging channel 27 is narrowed, as illustrated inFIG. 10 . Thereby, even if adischarge tube 112 is thickened so as to reduce the fluid resistance of the discharge channel, the airbubble discharging channel 27 is closed by theelastic wall 117 whereby it is possible to prevent backflow of ink from apressure adjusting tank 70. - At a time of air bubble discharging from a
common flow channel 7, only asuction pump 79 is driven without driving thepump 78 so that theelastic wall 117 is not deformed and the air bubble discharging channel is not narrowed. Herein, because there is no ink pressurization due to thepump 78, it is possible to reduce the fluid resistance of the discharge channel compared to that of the ink feeding systems having the configurations illustrated inFIG. 4 andFIG. 8 and therefore it is possible to make thesuction pump 79 more compact and inexpensive. - A liquid ejecting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 11 .FIG. 11 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment. The present ink feeding system for a head tank is a variation of the above-mentioned ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated inFIG. 9 , and is different from that ofFIG. 9 in that the configurations of first liquid-sending device and liquid storing container parts of ahead tank 101 at the upstream side thereof are similar to those of the ink feeding system for head tank as illustrated inFIG. 4 and a workingchamber 116 communicates with anair space 76 c of anink cartridge 76. - In the ink feeding system for head tank as illustrated in
FIG. 11 , the workingchamber 116 communicates with theair space 76 c of theink cartridge 76 via a workingfluid feeding tube 17. Air is sent from theair space 76 c to the workingchamber 116 by driving apump 78 for pressurizing anink bag 76 a, whereby anelastic wall 117 is deformed and an airbubble discharging channel 27 is closed, as illustrated inFIG. 12 . When gas is used for a working fluid as in the present embodiment, there is no problem such as evaporation, thickening, sticking or the like of ink, which is different from the configuration such that ink is used for a working fluid as in the fourth embodiment, and it is possible to use an inexpensive material for the workingfluid feeding tube 17. - A liquid ejecting device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 13 .FIG. 13 illustrates an ink feeding system for a head tank in the liquid ejecting device according to the present embodiment. The ink feeding system according to the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the ink feeding system of the first embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4 , and is different in a configuration such that apressure adjusting tank 70 communicates with anink bag 76 a of a liquid storing container via a return flow channel opening or closingvalve 96 and apump 78 has a discharging function. - Similarly to the second embodiment, the ink feeding system for a head tank as illustrated in
FIG. 13 has a configuration such that an airbubble discharging port 111 of ahead tank 101 is connected to adischarge tube 112 and it is possible to send air in acommon flow channel 7 of arecording head 1 to apressure adjusting tank 70 by asuction pump 79 arranged at the midpoint of thedischarge tube 112. - The bottom of the
pressure adjusting tank 70 of the present embodiment is connected to a liquidreturn flow channel 18 and communicates with theink bag 76 a via the return flow channel opening or closingvalve 96. The return flow channel opening or closingvalve 96 is commonly a valve at its closed state. - Whereas the
pressure adjusting tank 70 is connected to thewaste liquid tank 90 via thedrain tube 94 and when the level of ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 reaches the liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 b by a discharging operation of therecording head 1, the ink is discharged into thewaste liquid tank 90 and the level of liquid in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is retained between the two liquidlevel detecting sensors pump 78 is operated for discharging and the return flow channel opening or closingvalve 96 is opened when the level of liquid in thepressure adjusting tank 70 reaches a liquidlevel detecting sensor 74 b in the present embodiment. Thereby, ink in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is returned into theink bag 76 a and the level of liquid in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is lowered. After the liquid level detecting sensor 74 detects that the level of in thepressure adjusting tank 70 is lowered to its proper position, the return flow channel opening or closingvalve 96 is closed and thepump 78 is stopped. Because, in the ink feeding system of the present embodiment, it is possible to reuse ink as is wasted in the above-mentioned ink feeding system, it is possible to attain a liquid ejecting device with a low running cost. - A sixth embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus with the liquid ejecting device described for any one of the first to fifth embodiments described hereinbefore. The image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention as described for any one of the first to fifth embodiments in an image forming apparatus using ink, such as a conventional ink jet printer, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, and the like.
- It is possible to utilize a liquid ejecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention as a liquid ejecting device for ejecting liquid other than ink, for example, a DNA sample, a resist, a pattern material, or the like, as well as a liquid ejecting device for ejecting ink. Furthermore, it is possible to apply no only to a narrowly-defined image forming apparatus but also to a pattern forming apparatus for forming a pattern such as a DNA sample or a resist.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid ejecting device that does not cause insufficient refilling even in the case where ink feeding with a large flow rate is required, is allowed to discharge an air bubble(s) of a recording head sufficiently, and provides the recording head with an improved ejection stability, and an image forming apparatus with the same.
- Although the illustrative embodiments and specific examples of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to any of the illustrative embodiments and specific examples and the illustrative embodiments and specific examples may be altered, modified, or combined without departing from the scope of the present invention.
- The present application claims the benefit of its priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-136842 filed on May 26, 2008 in Japan, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Claims (11)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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JP2008136842A JP5163286B2 (en) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-05-26 | Liquid ejection apparatus and image projection apparatus |
JP2008-136842 | 2008-05-26 |
Publications (2)
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US20090290002A1 true US20090290002A1 (en) | 2009-11-26 |
US8141996B2 US8141996B2 (en) | 2012-03-27 |
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US12/470,747 Active 2030-04-22 US8141996B2 (en) | 2008-05-26 | 2009-05-22 | Liquid ejecting device and image forming apparatus |
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US (1) | US8141996B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5163286B2 (en) |
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JP2009279901A (en) | 2009-12-03 |
US8141996B2 (en) | 2012-03-27 |
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